10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. 15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. 16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. (Matthew 15:10-20 KJV)
What Defiles a Person
Christ had already shown that the disciples were not at fault for eating with unwashed hands since this only violated human traditions, not God’s law. Now, he further proves they had done nothing truly wrong. In the first part of his response, Jesus dismissed the authority of man-made rules. In this next part, he challenges the logic behind them.
He then called the crowd to him (Matthew 15:10). They had likely stepped away while Jesus addressed the scribes and Pharisees, perhaps sent off by those proud men who didn’t want them listening. But Christ turned to the crowd—those more open and ready to learn. He urged them, “Listen and understand.” His words required not just hearing but thoughtful reflection. Even those without formal education were encouraged to grasp the truth because what Jesus was about to say would confront traditions they had grown up with. Deeply rooted customs are hard to let go of, and it takes genuine effort to break free from long-held error.
The heart of his teaching is found in Matthew 15:11, where Jesus plainly says that what enters a person’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out does. In other words, food and ceremonial handwashing don’t make a person spiritually unclean. God’s kingdom isn’t about eating and drinking (Romans 14:17). Unless we eat irresponsibly or to excess, food cannot corrupt the soul. As Paul wrote, “To the pure, all things are pure” (Titus 1:15). The Pharisees had taken ceremonial laws to extremes, adding heavy burdens not found in Scripture. But Jesus makes it clear that nothing is unclean in itself. If Peter had remembered this teaching, he might not have hesitated when God told him to “kill and eat” in Acts 10.
True defilement comes from the heart, shown in the words we speak and the attitudes we harbor. We aren’t made unclean by eating with unwashed hands, but by the words that come from a corrupt heart. The mouth can lead us into sin (Ecclesiastes 5:6), and Jesus had already warned that we will answer for every careless word we speak (Matthew 12:36–37). His rebuke, therefore, wasn’t for the disciples, but for the Pharisees, who judged them unfairly. Those who are quick to accuse others of breaking man-made traditions often break God’s law themselves by speaking with pride and harshness. The ones most eager to find fault are often the most spiritually defiled.
When the disciples told Jesus that the Pharisees were offended by his words (Matthew 15:12), they seemed surprised. “Didn’t you know they’d be upset?” they asked. But Jesus wasn’t surprised. He understood their pride and resistance to truth. People who are rigid and self-important often react the strongest when their beliefs are challenged. The Pharisees, zealous for tradition, were offended not only by Jesus’ disregard for ritual but also by his warning about careless speech. Their focus on outward religion blinded them to deeper moral truths.
Jesus knew exactly what he was saying and why. His example teaches us that while we should avoid giving unnecessary offense, we must never hide the truth or avoid our duty simply because it may upset someone. If people are offended by the truth, that’s their choice. Perhaps even the disciples found Jesus’ teaching difficult, struggling to reconcile it with the laws about clean and unclean foods in the Old Testament. They also seemed to care about the Pharisees and hoped Jesus would soften his words. Their concern reminds us that we should desire the spiritual good of all people, even those who oppose us. Still, we must be cautious not to value peace over truth. Pleasing people at the expense of God’s word means we no longer serve Christ.
Jesus then spoke a strong word of judgment against the Pharisees and their traditions, explaining why he wasn’t concerned about their offense—and why his disciples shouldn’t be either. These men were resistant to truth and heading toward destruction. He declared, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots” (Matthew 15:13). Their religious customs and teachings weren’t from God but from human pride. Though Israel had once been like a noble vine, they had become wild and corrupted.
Even within the visible church, not everything is planted by God. While God alone sows good seed, pride and deception produce weeds. We must not assume everything in the religious sphere comes from him. False leaders may look respectable, but we know them by their fruit. In the end, whatever is not of God will be uprooted—whether over time or at the final judgment. The traditions of the Pharisees have vanished, but the gospel remains and always will. It cannot be shaken.
Jesus then added, “Let them alone; they are blind guides” (Matthew 15:14). His message was clear: don’t waste time trying to please or win over those who are proud and unteachable. Like Ephraim joined to idols, they are firmly attached to their own ways. When Christ says to leave someone alone, it is a serious warning. He explained that they were blind leaders of the blind—ignorant yet confident, strangers to the spiritual depth of God’s law, but convinced they saw clearly. Their prideful ignorance made them dangerous, not only to themselves but to all who followed them. And those who follow them will share in their downfall. “If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” Their destruction is certain. Revelation 22:15 says that hell is the destination of both deceivers and those who follow them. As Job 12:16 affirms, God will judge both the one who leads astray and the one who is led.
No one who misleads others will escape judgment—and those who willingly follow false teachers won’t be excused either. Many, as Seneca observed, would rather believe than examine. So they rush after popular error and fall together. Those who join in sin will share in its punishment.
After rebuking the Pharisees, Jesus turned back to his disciples. Though he rejected those who were willfully blind, he had compassion on those who sincerely wanted to learn (Hebrews 5:2). The Pharisees were offended, but those who love God’s Word are not shaken (Psalm 119:165).
Peter, speaking for the others, asked Jesus to explain what he had said (Matthew 15:15). Although Jesus had spoken clearly, his words contradicted everything they had grown up believing, so they found them difficult. Sometimes, plain truths seem complicated when they challenge old assumptions. But those who are sincere will always seek understanding. Unlike the Pharisees, who were offended but refused to ask questions, the disciples were confused yet eager to learn. They didn’t blame Christ’s words—they assumed the problem was in their own understanding.
Jesus gently corrected them: “Are you still so dull?” (Matthew 15:16). Though it was a rebuke, it came from love. They should have known that moral defilement is far worse than ceremonial impurity. It was especially disappointing since they were his disciples. After all their time with him, they still didn’t grasp these basic truths. Jesus expects our growth to match the light and instruction we’ve received (John 14:9; Hebrews 5:12; 2 Timothy 3:7–8).
Yet even after this reproof, he patiently explained the meaning. What enters the body through the mouth does not defile a person (Matthew 15:17). Food simply passes through the digestive system—it doesn’t touch the soul. Gluttony, yes, is sinful, but the food itself isn’t. The Pharisees had mistaken physical rituals for spiritual purity, but Jesus showed that what matters is the condition of the heart.